Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Generous Helpings of Peace

(Matthew 10:13) And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Peace is a possession given to us by our Lord: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid" (John 14:27). We, like Him, can generously give it to others. If we extend it to troubled people but they refuse it or scorn it (how foolish and fearful), we don't lose it. We can receive it back untarnished, perhaps even stronger and more potent than before.

I can't give away what I don't have. So what, then, do I do with the peace that my Lord offers me? Do I refuse it as an absurdity, choosing instead to believe the sovereignty of my chaotic circumstance? Do I submit to my doubts and fears as though those were better masters than Jesus Christ? Yikes!

Lord, help me embrace this peace--Your peace--that You've offered me. You paid dearly for it so I could enjoy it and be strengthened by it. Help me to give Your peace away as generously as You have.

No comments: